Stop Sabotaging Your PR Efforts

It is 2011 and what better time than now to begin to build your clear media message and image. After all, as a business owner, sometimes, you may have to rely on your own PR skills, so you may as well get it right. In my day-to-day life I'm a PR expert, coach and speaker. This year, I kicked off the year offering relevant PR tips to capture media for my book clients. However, I quickly realized, it can be translated into other industries (or as a solo-preneur) as well and I thought I'd share.
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Be bold and relevant in 2011! Are you handling your own PR Campaign? Just know that PR success can be obtained. Here are 3 ways to ensure exposure and credibility with your PR efforts. I like to call them the 3 C’s of a Book Publicity Campaign:    

•  Consistency - Having between one and two media appearances (radio show, TV or print) will NOT skyrocket your business to the top of Google or on the front page of the paper!  As an "top leader" responsible for your own PR efforts, it will take more than a few appearances.  It takes months and consistent publicity to have your media outreach efforts payoff; sometimes even longer. But, you must stick with it and be consistent.  A lot of times when you see important people (READ YOU) make appearances on major shows like the Oprah Show, Regis & Kelli & GMA; that buzz started regionally. It is critical to build the buzz around you, your hometown and then regional/statewide.
•  Covet local press – There are some golden opportunities to covet your local and regional press. Do not make the mistake of overlooking this opportunity. Business leaders all want that coveted role of landing on some "Best Businesses to know..." type of list or status. But, often times, that happens due to the local buzz and local support of regional media. People will love to cheer for you and your business success. If you get coverage, your hometown or state gets coverage too. It’s nostalgic and heart-warming for the town, the state and the business owner.  Covet the local press and do not count them out. Local and regional press have a nationwide reach.
• Creative Pitch – Does your service offering or product have a current event theme? Can it be related to a business scenario currently happening in the news? What‘s in the news? Be sure you know what reporters, journalists and the media is talking about BEFORE you call to pitch a story to them. For example, if your book is on “Surviving Divorce”, perhaps you pitch a story to the media during Valentine’s Day about “Four ways to love your way through divorce”. This creativity can certainly land you in the news, as most of the stories will be about “love, finding your mate, celebrating love…etc. A lot of times, the media needs a twist on a story…make it creative. Make it relevant, before you pitch.

CONGRATS on your PR efforts in 2011! Implementing these 3 C’s above will add value to your campaign approach. See you in the news! Remember, your image matters! Make it a positive one! 

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Antoinette Sykes offers a free Book Success eZine at www.TCBoutik.com. She also offers consulting and holds Book Publicity events. About Author: Antoinette Sykes is a PR expert, speaker and coach operating a boutique PR agency that focuses on authors and event PR.

Nothing is as easy as it looks!

Sometimes insight comes from funny places – literally. Today it was from a silly comic strip, Rhymes With Orange, in the local newspaper. Two people looking at a distant snowman, one remarks that the snowman is so peaceful.

The next frame shows the snowman up close. He is worrying to himself…sleet, sun, dogs, rabbits...

For me, this is a reminder that nothing is as easy as it looks from the outside. Time and time again I am surprised to find out that someone that I admire has to work at success – they make it look so easy! Or I make the mistake of forgetting that nobody has the perfect life or situation. We all have obstacles and challenges to overcome. We all have advantages, too. Fortunately, unlike the snowman, we can act to change the course of our days.